High Desert United Reformed Church

In light of the recent development of the COVID-19 pandemic the council of High Desert United Reformed Church, out of wisdom and love for our neighbors, has decided to set the following precautionary guidelines in order to minimize potential spread of the virus and to protect the congregation during worship services:

• Given the seriousness of the COVID-19 outbreak, you should feel free not to attend services in person until the threat has passed. If you do not attend, you can access our previous sermons online or watch a streamed service, such as Oceanside URC’s live streams on Sunday at 10 AM and 5 PM. You can also search online for other URC services.
• We advise everyone who is sick, especially those who have any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection, such as coughing, sneezing, fever, headache and body pain, to remain at home.
• Hand sanitizers will be strategically placed on the table at the entrance. Please use them as you enter the church premises.
• For the time being we are discouraging shaking of hands and hugging as a form of greeting.
• Seating arrangements will be relatively unchanged. However, distances between pew rows will be increased in observance of recommended social distancing.
• During the administration of the Lord’s Supper the pastor (with gloved hands) will be distributing the bread in your open hand to make sure that the partaker alone comes in contact with the elements.
• We will be temporarily utilizing a stationary drop box located at the back table for our offerings.
• Please be reminded to wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• We will dispense with having snacks and shorten the time between services.
• We will sanitize often-touched surfaces like door knobs/handles, counter tops and rails to name a few, at least twice during the day with an appropriate disinfectant.

Although we are not expecting this to be the new norm, we are implementing these preventive measures as a response to the many uncertainties brought about by COVID-19.

“Freedom from fear of change results not from the absence of change but from the presence of an unchanging God” (Mal 3:6)

—Dr. Joseph Velasco, on behalf of the High Desert URC Council